>> american history tv is featuring c-span's original series, "first ladies" at 8:00 p.m. eastern time on sunday nights throughout the rest of the year. next week we look at abigail adams. this is american history tv. all we can, every weekend on c-span3. >> each week american history tv's reel america brings you archival films that help tell the story of the 20th century. on january 27, 1964, senator margaret chase smith of maine appeared at the women's national press club in washington d.c. to announce her candidacy for the republican presidential nomination in 1964. margaret chase smith was the first woman elected to both the u.s. house and senate. some parts of this 18 minute speech are missing from the

archival film. [applause] margaret chase smith: guest, and friends. i am sorry to disappoint it to you, but this is the best i had on monday morning. [laughter] i always enjoy being with the members of the national women's press club, even when you give members of congress an unmerciful going over. i think that i enjoy being with you not only because of the many good friends that i have among you but also because i was a

newspaperwoman myself before becoming a member of the house and senate. in fairness to everyone, i made -- i concluded that i should make my decision by the end of january. it has not been an easy decision, either yes or no would be difficult. the arguments made to me that i should have been a candidate have been gratifying. first, it has been contended that i should run because i have more national office experience than any of the other announced candidates, or the unannounced candidates, with that experience

going back to 1940 and predating any of the others. [applause] to destroy any political bigotry against women on this score just as the late john f. kennedy had broken the political barrier on religion and destroyed once and for all such political bigotry. this argument contends that i would be pioneering the way for a woman the future, to make her more acceptable, to make the way easier, for her to be elected president of the united states. perhaps the point that has impressed me the most on this argument is that women before me pioneered and smoothed the way

for me to be the first woman to be elected to both the house and the senate, and that i should give back in return that which had been given to me. third, it has been contended that i should run in order to -- because i do not have unlimited financial resources or a tremendous political machine or backing from the party bosses but instead have political independence for not having such resources. there are other reasons that have been advanced but i will not take your time to discuss them. instead let me turn to the reasons advanced as to why i should not run. first, there are those who make the contention that no woman

should ever dare to aspire to the white house, and this is a man's world and that it should be kept that way, and that a woman on the national ticket of a political party would be more of a handicap than a strength. second, it is contended that the odds are too heavily against me for even the most remote chance of victory, and that i should not run in the face of what most observers see as certain and crushing defeat. third, it is contended that as a woman i would not have the physical stamina and strength to run, and that i should not take that much out of me even for what might conceivably be a good cause, even if a losing cause. fourth, it is contended that i

should not run because obviously i do not have the financial resources to wage the campaign that others have. fifth, it is contended that i should not run because i do not have the professional political organization that others have. sixth, it is contended that i should not run because to do so would result in necessary absence from washington while the senate had rollcall votes and thus that i , would bring to an end my consecutive roll call record which is now at 1,590. you know --

[applause] you know of other reasons advanced as to why i should not run and so i will not take your , time to discuss them. [laughter] [applause] [applause]

first, which i met before in 1948 when i first ran for united states senator from maine, when i did not have the money that my opposition did. when i did not have the professional party organization that my opposition had. when it was said that the senate is no place for a woman. when my physical strength was sapped during the campaign with a broken arm. when my conservative opponent and my liberal opponent in maine were not restricted in campaigning by official duties in washington such as i had, and when practically no one gave me a chance to win.

my candidacy in the new hampshire primary will be a test in several ways. one, it will be a test of how much support will be given to a candidate without campaign funds and whose expense will be limited to personal and travel expense paid by the candidate. two, it will be a test of how much support will be given a candidate without a professional party organization of paid campaign workers but instead composed of non-paid amateur volunteers. three, it will be a test of how

much support will be given a candidate who refuses to absent herself from the official duties to which she has been elected and whose campaign time in new -- time on may 5th -- [no audio] illinois having advised me they have petitions ready to file. where would your washington headquarters be, and when will you receive campaign contribution? [laughter]

>> i have been working so hard on this decision. i assure you it has not been easy that i have not formulated , any plans or thought beyond today. i shall this week sit down sometimes when i can find the time and make out plans, but i will not be having headquarters, i will not be having, and i would not expect contributions. >> will you be willing to debate rocky, barry and harold in new hampshire? [laughter] margaret chase smith: we have to start all over on the debate because two more have been added. i will be very happy to go on and do a debate with the other

candidates. but with the provisions of the -- that it be carried out where all four contestants are on the same platform and debate amongst themselves. i shall be glad to enter any arrangement or agreement as all -- so long as all of our candidates are on the same platform. it was said democratic women helped to elect you in 1948. >> we do expect strong democratic women's support this year? margaret chase smith: in the state of maine, i have always been nominated on the republican ticket, and i've always been grateful for the supporters supporting me and the election.

i take the position that women democrats and republicans are not supporting a woman because she is a woman, woman of his country are looking for qualified candidates. >> if you're showing is good in the primary, the first place on the ticket is unlikely. would you than except second-place -- then accept second place? margaret chase smith: i would be a candidate for president in the new hampshire and illinois primaries. i've no further comment. >> is your statement not automatically put you in the oregon primary? margaret chase smith: yes, i think that's correct. >> what would you do as a candidate to break down discrimination against women? margaret chase smith: well, if

the people of this country don't know what i would do from what i have done, i don't know that i can add any more information to that. [applause] >> what is your position on the civil rights bill before congress? margaret chase smith: again, my record on civil rights on all major issues at issues over the past 23 years is quite clear. i have not read this particular bill and shall not until after it comes over to the senate and is ready for us to act on it. >> have you been approached by any of the other gop hopefuls? about staying out of the primary? [laughter] margaret chase smith: i look at will because i am not sure what all this means.

one candidate has been welcoming me into the new hampshire primary by words, but certainly not by acts. so i can't say. >> we have a question about entering the california primary. margaret chase smith: i would say to all these primaries, i don't know what will happen. only time will tell. california seems like a long ways off, both in this country and in time. while it would be glad to enter all the primaries if i was going to go that far, i don't think i have to specify any further. >> who will be your running mate? [laughter] margaret chase smith: none of

the candidates have indicated any desire. [laughter] [applause] i would say, however, that i wish we could get away from the president nominee choosing the vice president candidate. i think it would be so much more of a contest and so much better if half a dozen or more names could go to the presidential nominee and in the convention has several to vote on. but i haven't gotten as far as choosing my vice president. >> how many letters have you received urging your candidacy for president? margaret chase smith: i don't know. i have not counted them. they are coming in at the rate of 50 a day, which does not sound like you much for you, but it really is because it is a

steady mail. throughout the months there have been thousands of letters and i have hoped to go through and analyze them. it would be a very interesting analysis. >> senator, if you can't make it yourself, which candidate would you support for president? margaret chase smith: rockefeller, nixon scranton, ho ewho else. -- margaret chase smith: i'm a candidate for president. i'm not supporting anybody else. [laughter] [applause] >> to get back to the rose you are wearing today, the